A New Luck

by Crit Fail

Forty-Eight Students awaken in Hope's Peak Academy, to find themselves at the mercy of Monokuma and his many machinations. Their only means of escape? To commit the perfect murder, without being caught in the process. Can there be any hope amidst the overwhelming despair? (AU featuring the cast of all three main games.) [Part One of the Legacy of Hope Series] [Reboot of LoD]

22. Chapter 22: Conflicting Emotions

Chapter 22: Conflicting Emotions

7:12 AM, Day Thirteen

First Floor

Boys' Dormitory

Fuyuhiko silently frowned as he looked over the small book on his desk. He squinted at it for a moment before shaking his head and pocketing the journal. As he continued to sit in the brief silence, the Yakuza's attention was pulled back by a knocking at his door. "It's open," he called out as he moved to the center of the room.

The door creaked open as Kirumi stepped over the threshold, shutting the door behind her. "Is everything alright, Fuyuhiko? Is there any reason why you asked me to come here?"

"Yeah, there's something I wanted to talk to you about, and something else, but that can wait..." the blond said forlornly as he straightened his tie. He gestured to the couch in the room as he moved to sit on the chair from his desk.

The Maid gave a small nod before making her way to the couch and sitting down. Smoothing out the front of her dress, she glanced over at the Yakuza. "So, what is it you wanted to talk about with me?"

"Well, to start it off, I have a question. I know you two worked together a bunch for all of us but were you and Teruteru friends? Not to make any assumptions," Fuyuhiko asked. He had tried his best to stay serious, but once he'd mentioned the Cook's name, a frown had started to form before being pulled back.

Kirumi sat silent for a moment, a hand on her chin as she fell into deep thought. "I think... I wouldn't consider us incredibly close, but I would say we were friends. If things had panned out differently, maybe we could've been great friends." She sighed, allowing a bit of her mask to fall. "He was one of the few people who would help me with my tasks."

"That's about what I figured," Fuyuhiko muttered as he carefully stood up. He rested his hands in his pockets, pausing for a moment as he felt the journal. "Must have been nice to have some help from another Ultimate. I'm guessing you plan on picking up the slack now that he's gone, right?"

"I mean, Gonta helps when he can get away from Angie, so I'll have him at least," Kirumi stated, cracking a smile. She cleared her throat, regaining her stoic expression. "Aside from him, though, I will."

A weak smile also graced the Yakuza for a moment before he hardened again. "I'm sure you'll get a lot of talk about not overworking yourself, but I doubt you'd have your talent if you'd make that kinda mistake. But I think there's a way to still get a little help from Teru..."

Kirumi perked up, cocking an eyebrow at the Yakuza's words. "What do you mean by that?"

The blond turned his head a little, looking from his bed, towards his door, and back towards the Maid. "So I wasn't able to get any real sleep, probably pretty common for most of us. So I went for a little walk and I stopped by Teru's room. I got the bear to let me in. Don't know why, just felt like I needed to go there, maybe... And I found this," Fuyuhiko explained as he stepped forward and held out the small journal towards the girl.

With a bit of hesitance, the Maid reached forward and gently plucked the journal from Fuyuhiko's hand. Turning to the first page, Kirumi was greeted with a recipe. It was in neat, small handwriting, and the page was a bit more weathered. The recipe itself was for a rather sely imple roast beef stew. The following few pages were similar. The pages were older, the handwriting was neat, and the recipes were simple. When turning to a random page later in the journal, though, Kirumi smiled. The handwriting was messier, bigger, and screamed Teruteru with the level of complication in the meal.

After combing through each page for nearly five minutes, Kirumi looked back up at Fuyuhiko with her smile still on her face. "Thank you, Fuyuhiko, for giving me a way to honor him."

Fuyuhiko couldn't help but smirk as well. "Heh, yeah, I figured you would get the best use out of it. Glad you see it as honoring him though... I still got something else I gotta do before I can say the same."

Kirumi glanced up from the journal again. "If it's not too much to ask, what would that be?"

"Back during the second motive, he asked me to get whoever was sent out to check in on his family. But since he was one of my subordinates, I have to be the one to talk to his family and deliver the news."

The Maid nodded, setting the journal to the side. "It will hurt, but his family will appreciate being told the news more than being left in the dark." She gave a small chuckle. "And I can tell his mom will love to hear about all the recipes he made, including a few of her own."

"Yeah, though I might leave out a few other details about his... socializing," Fuyuhiko mused as he shook his head a little.

Kirumi's smile grew just a tad, throwing a gloved hand over her mouth to hide it. "That might be for the best."

"Either way, that's for later. I think I might try to get some rest. But, I'm looking forward to what you choose for dinner, " Fuyuhiko added with a nod.

"I appreciate it, Fuyuhiko," Kirumi responded. She stood up and gave a slight bow. "I hope dinner is to everyone's satisfaction. If you need me, just give me a shout." With that, she made her leave.

---

9:44 AM, Day Thirteen

First Floor

Hallways

Kazuichi couldn't help but grumble to himself a little as he walked out of the cafeteria. The meal had been fine, way better than he could have made, but that wasn't what troubled him. He hadn't seen most of the others today, but he notably hadn't seen Shuichi all morning. "I hope everything's okay... Would it be weird to go check on him? I don't know him that well… but he seems like a nice dude..." he muttered to himself as he started wandering off down the hallways, burying his hands in his pockets.

"Oh! Kazuichi!" Tsumugi shouted, rushing to catch up with the Mechanic. "I was hoping to talk to you!"

"Huh- Ahh! Er, I mean... Oh hey, Tsumugi, I di-didn't see you there," Kazuichi awkwardly tried to explain as he was caught so off guard. His face had gone a little pale as he struggled to take a breath. "Heh, so... what did you need me for... Oh, um, does Celeste need us for...?"

The Cosplayer drew in a sharp breath before releasing it. A smile appeared across her face, but it wasn't reaching her eyes. "Yeah, about that... I want to know why you're getting so close with her."

"What do you mean?" Kazuichi asked as he ticked his head to the side, deeply confused. "She's the one who invited me to..." the boy let his sentence trail off as he started to blush. "You know... when she, um... wanted to thank me..."

"Yeah, well, you've gotten your two seconds inside..." Tsumugi trailed off as she drew in a deep breath. "We've fucked, so why are you still following her?"

The Mechanic was staggered again at the girl's words. "I, erm, don't get what you mean... again. Why wouldn't I be? I mean, Celeste is like, so cool and pretty and... y'know... the s-sex..."

"Yes, but what about Sonia?" Tsumugi pressed. She gave a small, overly sweet and encouraging smile. "Didn't you think all of that about her? Plus, you've never had sex with her."

The small smile that had started to form fell into a harder-to-read neutral expression. "O-Oh, Sonia, right... I mean, yeah, and sure she's still really hot and all but, she was never going to give me the time of day. She even just dropped me from her group without a single word... But then Celeste… P-Plus, isn't she kind of like a princess too? Like, she totally gives off a European noble vibe, right?"

The Cosplayer's smile dropped off her face as a deadpan expression took hold. "You know she's Japanese, right?"

"Yeah, I know that, but that's not what I meant. She just has, like, an aura, okay?" Kazuichi explained as he crossed his arms.

"Just... What would you do if she decided she didn't want you anymore?" The Cosplayer matched Kazuichi's energy, crossing her arms over her chest.

The Mechanic's face immediately fell again at the thought. "Huh, did she say... Hey, wait! Are you trying to sabotage this?" Kazuichi called out as he jabbed a finger at the girl.

Tsumugi let out a small growl before jabbing her finger right into Kazuichi's chest. "Whatever you think 'this' is, there's nothing to sabotage! Celeste and I were together first, and I'm going to be her first choice before you, you fucking simp!"

"Yeah right, then why did she invite me to... she didn't even really say you two were together," Kazuichi said as he rolled his eyes. "Besides, she chose us both so what does it matter? If she lets me stay then I am!"

"She pitied you, and you lied for her; that's why!" Tsumugi let out a groan. "And we haven't told anyone yet, but we're going to."

Kazuichi shook his head as he started to turn away. "You're the one who sounds like a simp now. You really think she'd be bringing other people if you two were really together?"

Tsumugi's anger immediately drained from her face as she dropped her finger. "I... I..." As quickly as it left, the anger was right back in the Cosplayer as she grabbed Kazuichi's shoulder and wheeled him back around to face her. "I won't lose to some fucking mechanic who was so creepy that Sonia didn't want him anywhere near her!" With that, she spun around and stormed off.

Kazuichi sneered as he watched the girl leave. "Y-Yeah, well, you obviously have something to worry over!" he called out, but she had already rounded the corner and he wasn't sure if his words even made it. All of his previous thoughts and feelings had been lost as he once again grumbled to himself. "Yeah, she's the one that has to be worried... not me... Celeste wouldn't... not like Sonia, she d-definitely won't be like Sonia..."

---

12:03 PM, Day Thirteen

First Floor

Boys' Dormitory

At the sound of knocking at his door, Shuichi found his attention pulled back to the world around him. He sat up from where he'd been laying in his bed, staring at the ceiling. "G-Give me a minute!" He called out as he shot out of bed, but stopped as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He was still wearing the same outfit from the trial. It was wrinkled and unkempt, much like his hair. He frowned as he moved towards the closet and quickly grabbed a clean undershirt and a pair of pants. At the sound of another knock, the boy stumbled over towards the door, futilely trying to smooth down his hair. He pulled the door open and didn't even get a good look as he quickly bowed his head and offered an apology. "S-Sorry about that!"

"It's perfectly alright - Shuichi, did you not sleep well?" Kyoko inquired, interrupting her reassurance as she saw the state her fellow detective was in.

"W-Well, I-" Shuichi had started to say only to stop himself with a sigh. "I didn't get any sleep... I don't think I've been able to get any sleep after each of these trials if I'm being honest..."

Kyoko gave a small nod. "That makes sense given everything." She peeked her head into the room before turning her focus back to the younger boy. "Do you mind if I come in so we can talk?"

Shuichi cringed a little as he also glanced over his shoulder, seeing the state of his room. "Ah, Kyoko... are you sure? I'm not sure you'd want to see..."

"Well, it's that, or we talk out in the hallway," Kyoko retorted. "And I think privacy would be much nicer."

"R-Right, sorry..." Shuichi said as he took a step back and allowed the other Detective in. He sighed as he closed the door. "S-So... what did you want to talk about, Kyoko? Did something happen at the leader's meeting this morning? I really hope nothing else has already gone wrong..."

"Nothing too important, although Sonia and Hajime seemed a bit off," Kyoko reported. She stepped further into the room and frowned at the unkempt state. "And so have you, if we're being honest."

"Yeah... I, erm... I keep thinking about some things, some memories," Shuichi explained as he lingered by the door, looking off to the side away from the girl.

Kyoko glanced over her shoulder before sighing. "Is it about the trials?"

Shuichi rubbed his arm anxiously as he stepped more into the room. "Kind of. I guess it'd be more correct to say this last trial, that Hiyoko reminded me of something..."

"You don't have to tell me if you aren't comfortable," Kyoko reassured. She sat down on the Detective's couch and patted the spot next to her. "Although, if it will help you get out of this spiral, then it might be good to talk about it."

"You're right... I know it would, but that doesn't always help... No, I should get it off my chest," Shuichi explained as he carefully walked up and sat down on the couch beside his leader. "So I was always nervous about feeling this way once I'd heard about the trials, and seeing Kaede and Ryoma get sent off was hard enough. But I knew once someone like Hiyoko eventually was a killer, it'd be too much for me..."

Kyoko cocked an eyebrow. "But why? You've been nothing short of a competent detective."

"It kind of goes back to how I first became a Detective, what put me on this school's radar," Shuichi explained as he nervously rubbed his neck. "S-So my uncle is a detective as well, and he'd been struggling with a murder case..."

After taking a moment to steady his mind, Shuichi continued on. "He was having trouble finding the killer, and I don't really remember how but I ended up finding the case file in his office. I studied it like it was just some kind of puzzle or game. And I was able to find him, the killer. He was arrested and I got in the local news, a new up-and-coming kid detective... But when the killer was being taken to court, I was brought in as a witness. And that's when I saw it. The way he looked at me like I ruined everything. It shook me right to my core..."

Kyoko was silent for a moment. "Hiyoko's demeanor was similar to his then? Fighting the sentence and a lack of remorse for his actions?"

"No, in fact, he had done it because the victim, the man he'd killed was a horrible person. He'd done terrible things to the killer and his loved ones. And I caught him. Looking back I have to wonder... If my uncle had figured it out and was just going to let the killer get away with it," Shuichi explained with a deep frown.

"If your uncle was a detective worth his salt, then I would say yes." Kyoko leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs. "I won't lie, I have faced a similar dilemma early in my career. However, I realized something pretty early on. It's the old adage 'Two wrongs don't make a right.' That man's victim may have been terrible, but he lowered himself to that man's level by committing a murder."

"T-That's... I guess that's true. And I know that Hiyoko wasn't even close to that other killer... I wasn't even the one who figured it all out. Hajime really figured it out. And the only one I really did figure out was Kaede... but," Shuichi muttered as he looked up to his desk. On the top was his secret motive. "And I might have made some kind of mistake there..."

Kyoko frowned. "I know what your secret said, but I do have to wonder then: We're all still alive, are we not?"

"That's... I know that but something feels off, unless there's something I don't know about with any of my old cases," Shuichi said as he crossed his arms.

"I suppose that's fair enough, but I will say that I think you haven't done anything wrong," Kyoko argued. She reached a tentative hand out and (somewhat awkwardly) placed it on the younger detective's back. "We have to make difficult choices in this line of work, but they all go towards the same goal: keeping other people safe."

Shuichi flinched a little at the touch but didn't try to move away. He just kept his head low as he sighed again. "Only after we couldn't keep someone else safe... No, that's, that's not right, is it?"

Kyoko sighed. "It's not, but I get why you're thinking this way. You have to understand that it is out of our control, though. The most we can do is protect and help others so that no one else gets hurt... As possible as that is in here."

"Okay, yeah... I'm really glad you're here, Kyoko. After Kaede... I don't know what would have happened without someone as strong as you around. I never would have made it as a leader," the male Detective admitted.

"It's no problem at all, Shuichi." She flashed Shuichi a small smile. "It's the least I can do for my fellow detective." The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Kyoko gave the younger boy a small pat on the back. "Alright, now, I'm going to wait here while you change and shower, and then we're going to eat some lunch. Okay?"

"Huh? Oh, you're right... I should really get out of this room-" Shuichi had started to say only to be interrupted by the growling of his stomach. "And definitely lunch afterward..."

---

1:32 PM, Day Thirteen

First Floor

Cafeteria

Leon leaned back in his chair in the cafeteria, a contemplative expression etched on his face as the Baseball Star lost himself in thought. He was jarred out of his musings, however, when the doors to the cafeteria burst open.

"Ha-ha, there he is!" Kaito called out as he looked squarely at the redhead. He had a large grin as he beelined right towards Leon with Akane following behind him. "Hey man, why have you been hiding? A guy like you should be all for our daily training! You're an Ultimate athlete after all!"

"Uh, hey…" Leon gave a casual wave as Kaito and Akane ambled on in. "I haven't been hiding, really. Guess I just…wanted to be alone or somethin'. And uh, thanks but no thanks. Training really ain't my thing."

Akane cocked her head to the side, the confusion clear on her face. "Why not? Training is the best way to relieve some stress in this place."

"No kidding!" Kaito said with a nod as he crossed his arms. "At a time like this we can fall back on our basics, y'know? If we can keep up our usual training then we'll all be in a good headspace, keep ourselves grounded."

"That's…nice for you guys, but like I said, it's really not for me. Believe me, I had enough training back when I was actually playing baseball," Leon insisted as he frowned.

Akane let out a small hum. "Oh, did your coach go at you like Nekomaru? Because they should've offered a massage afterwards to help you unwind."

"Heh, well, I don't think a lot of coaches are like Nekomaru. But come on, it couldn't have been all bad. Getting a few hours of exercise and doing what you love. Besides, after walking in on... all that stuff from last night, you could definitely use something to clear your mind. So why not sweat it out, right?" the Astronaut asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I don't exactly love baseball anymore. And yeah, it was that bad. Honestly, I probably would have loved Nekomaru as a coach. As is, what I had to deal with…" Leon trailed off, his face twitching slightly as he tried to fight off a scowl. "That bastard forced me to catch baseball after baseball until I collapsed. He'd also make me stay in the batting cages for hours on end, making me perfect my swing until I could hit every ball sent my way. That training made me an Ultimate, but it was brutal, man. So yeah, I don't really like to train anymore, even under someone like Nekomaru."

The color drained from Kaito's face as he looked down at the Baseball Star in a bit of shock. "What the hell? Are you serious? I heard some of those coaches could be intense but that's... Hey, I thought it was like a joke but, I had always heard you guys had to train till you puked, is that real?"

"Yup. Happened all the time," Leon grimly confirmed. "Not just to me, but the other players too. Though I always had it worst, since I was our team's star player."

"That's horrible," Akane muttered. "I think that'd make anyone stop training."

"No kidding," Kaito said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Jeez, sorry man, I didn't think it was like that. I know I love my training. I almost jump at every chance to get into the next part of my training. I want to get into space ASAP."

"It's fine, you didn't know. I understand you're all pumped for it and shit, but it's just not my thing," Leon replied.

Akane nodded before giving Leon a massive thump on the back. "Well, don't sweat it then. We can find other ways to help you get your mind off all this depressing stuff!"

"Hell yeah, man, if you ever want to talk just let me know," Kaito added, clasping his hand down on his shoulder.

"Ha, thanks. I'll keep that in mind," Leon said, offering them a more sincere and grateful smile.

---

3:17 PM, Day Thirteen

First Floor

Gym

Nekomaru skidded back as he caught the kick that had been launched at him. As soon as he had recovered, he saw Sakura lining up again for her next attack. He only had time to raise his arm again to defend. "Haha! Now this is what I expected of the Ultimate Martial Artist!" The Team Manager roared in excitement as he let the girl's fist glance off his arm. A small burst of blue electricity danced off his own fist as he leaned in and launched his own counterattack.

Sakura held up her forearms to block the flurry of blows, grunting with each strike that Nekomaru landed on her. She twisted to the side after a moment, and lashed out with her fist, aiming to hit Nekomaru's chest. But, she was oddly...slow. Almost telegraphing her blows, in a sense, as she struck back at the Ultimate Coach.

The boy's eyes squinted a little as he cleanly knocked the attack away. Seeing Sakura take a little longer to recover than she had before, Nekomaru decided to press his advantage and drove his knee forward. As Sakura pushed his attack off to the side, Nekomaru followed the momentum and drove his fist forward towards Sakura's other side.

Sakura moved to block it, but she was just a tad too slow, and so she ended up tanking the strike. She grunted at the minor pain, shaking her head slightly before she lashed out in retaliation with her foot. But once more, it seemed like she was a step behind; almost as if something was holding her back.

Nekomaru frowned a little as he ducked under the girl's kick. He clenched his fist and rose up with an uppercut, roaring out as he took the advantage of the opening, lightning crackling off his eyes. "SHOW ME YOUR SPIRIT!"

Sakura moved to dodge, but Nekomaru proved to be faster than her: his blow impacted against her chin, and she stumbled backward in response, slightly staggered and dazed from his uppercut.

The room was silent for a moment as Nekomaru stared at the girl. He finally let out a sigh once he saw the girl shake off the hit. "That's enough," Nekomaru said as he crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. "Sakura... What's wrong? I doubt a simple coach like me was able to wear you down that quickly. So, what is it?"

"What? There's nothing…" Sakura trailed off, shaking her head a moment later before regarding Nekomaru with a sardonic smile. "I suppose there's no fooling you, is there? I…suppose you could say that there's been something weighing down on my mind. It has to do with the 'secrets' Monokuma gave us some time ago."

"Heh, at this point, I would probably be more surprised if that wasn't involved in anyone's problems here," Nekomaru replied as he rubbed the back of his neck. "As the Ultimate Team Manager, I pride myself in making sure that for anyone who seeks out my help, they can trust that I will do what I can to help refine them, body and mind! So, whether you are more comfortable telling me or going to talk to someone else doesn't matter as much. What does matter is that if it is dragging you down, then I cannot continue fighting you at the level you ask for until you have confronted this hurdle."

Sakura nodded and paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts as she stood there. Then, she slowly started to speak. "It was about my boyfriend, Kenshiro. He...when I last saw him, he was not well off. He'd come down with cancer, and his odds were not exactly...the best. He was...practically wasting away the last time I saw him in the hospital."

She took a deep breath, frowning to herself before pushing ahead. "And, if Monokuma's letter is to be believed, he has since...perished."

Nekomaru paused as he had been taken aback for a moment. "That is very unfortunate. More than words can say. And with the revelation that we may have lost time, you are left wondering, how long has it been, right?"

"Exactly," Sakura murmured. "If we truly have lost time here, then...I find it all too plausible that something as dreadful as this could have happened. Kenshiro's doctors said he had a year left, at best; perhaps less. And it would take at least that amount of time, if not more, for Hiyoko to have hit a growth spurt like that..."

"So it makes it too real to just write it off," the Coach said, earning a nod from the girl. "And you're also worried about how long he was there, without you getting to be there for him at the end?"

Sakura regarded Nekomaru with a surprised look and gave him another nod after a few seconds. "Yes indeed. Very astute of you, Nekomaru. That greatly troubles me. I was…accepting of his potential death, and Kenshiro certainly encouraged me to move on before he passed. But, the idea that he died alone in the end…it unsettles me greatly."

Nekomaru nodded solemnly. Afterward, he looked away, his fist tightening as he frowned. He took a moment to compose himself before replying. "But... there's also the guilt, not wanting your loved ones to linger. Dreading that they'll... well..."

"Indeed," Sakura said. She sighed, crossing her arms as a more solemn look crossed her scarred face. "I have to admit, you're very perceptive. You're fairly good at reading people, aren't you?"

"Maybe, but I have a bit more... experience in this regard... how Kenshiro had been thinking about things. Since you bared your soul, it is only right I do the same," Nekomaru explained.

"Oh?" she questioned, clearly intrigued. "Does that mean you had something…similar? Some past illness? If you don't mind me asking."

"Yes, I was born with a heart defect. Spent a lot of my younger years in a hospital. Every time worrying I wouldn't get to leave. After enough time there, you worry about who you're leaving behind, and how they'll be once you're gone," Nekomaru explained as his face started to harden a little.

"Ah, I see," Sakura said. She bowed her head respectfully, and added, "I see how that would help you to empathize with Kenshiro's plight. That can't have been an easy thing to go through; and yet, it seems you persevered in spite of it."

The Coach nodded, but his face stayed somber. "I did, but not without some loss... Another kid there going through the same thing, he didn't make it. He wasn't scared at the end, though. He just told me he hoped his sports club would be able to carry on after he was gone, that they wouldn't lose it all because of him. Once they learned the news, they were obviously heartbroken, but I made a choice. I took his place, carrying on his dreams and I was able to help his team. And I just kept going on from there," Nekomaru explained as he wiped away a single tear and gave a small smile.

Sakura nodded and gave her own smile in return. "Quite the noble tale. You truly are a unique individual, Nekomaru. It's a pity I couldn't introduce you to Kenshiro before: he certainly would have appreciated your perspective. By the time we met, he was already starting to fall ill, though we had no idea at the time how bad it was going to get."

"I'm sure I would have enjoyed meeting him as well," Nekomaru said as he scratched his chin in thought. "You've said before that he already left you the title, but you didn't think it was earned, right?"

Sakura nodded her head in affirmation. "Indeed. For as long as I've known Kenshiro, I worked to surpass him and beat him on my own terms. But because he fell ill, I never got that chance."

"I see. I doubt my word will convince you that it's a title you've more than earned..." Nekomaru mused as he crossed his arms. "In that case, that means you are still on that journey, so all you can do now is keep getting stronger. You can't change the past, but if you keep improving and in your mind, Kenshiro is stronger than you, then you'll always be making him stronger as well. So keep working to uplift him as well as yourself. His strength now rests on the fruits of your own training!"

Sakura raised an eyebrow in surprise but found herself smiling again and letting out a small laugh. "My, but you have a way with words, Nekomaru. Very well: I shall do just that. Even if Kenshiro actually has passed on, I can at least keep his memory alive, and train to get stronger for the both of us."

"Bahaha, that's the spirit! Whenever you're ready. I'll be here to help propel you forward towards that goal!" Nekomaru announced, strengthening his fists as lightning arched off him.

---

8:44 PM, Day Thirteen

Second Floor

Library

Mukuro hesitated as she stood in the hallway, studying the door reluctantly. She was quiet as she tried to bring herself to simply open the door and walk in like she'd done countless times throughout her life. She remembered the previous night and her less than stellar attempt at trying to comfort Leon. And now here she was, forced into it again. Her thoughts then drifted back to the moments that landed her in this awkward predicament. "But, Junko... are you sure I have to do this? Surely you'd be better at it than-"

"Come on, Mukie! You're a military girl, and Novoselic is really militaristic," Junko argued. "Besides, you still need to work on your social skills!"

"I... I suppose, but I've been doing better since we came here. I've been sparring with some of the others," Mukuro countered, shaking her head.

Junko sighed. "Mukie, please, for me. Sonia looked super down during the leaders' meeting, and I think someone who isn't a leader trying to talk to her might help."

"Alright Jun, I'll try... I just hope I don't make it worse," the Soldier muttered as she awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck.

"Alright, come on, you've rushed into worse battlefields, girl," Mukuro muttered as she took a firm grip on the handle. As she walked in, she noticed the Princess seated at one of the tables. A book was open in front of her but the blonde was obviously not giving it her full attention. With another steadying breath, Mukuro stepped up. "Er, Sonia, are you o- no... how are you holding up?"

The Princess perked up a bit before cracking a (somewhat forced) smile. "Hello, Mukuro, I'm... I'm alright." She held up the book. "Just doing a bit of reading."

"I see, well... Junko was a little worried so I had wanted to check on how you were doing," Mukuro awkwardly explained. "So is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

"I see I'm letting my emotions get the better of me," Sonia muttered. Her shoulders slumped as she let out a sigh. "I... I'm honestly just wondering if it could've been avoided."

"If what could have been avoided? The killings?" Mukuro asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What else is there?" Sonia stared down at the book, clearly still not reading its contents. "I just... I can't believe everything that has happened." Tears began to swell up in her eyes. "I can't believe that Hiyoko would just take their lives like that." She quickly wiped at her eyes before a single tear could fall. "Why would she attack them?"

"That's hard to say, unfortunately... We only have her word at the time to go on," Mukuro answered, shaking her head. "Even then, she was clearly distressed and probably not of her right mind well before she finally decided to go on the attack."

Sonia nodded. "And that makes sense, but she lured them in. And I feel horrible thinking that way, but I don't know what other way to think!" The Princess hid her face as she felt tears begin to rush down her cheeks. "And I also feel horrible for her given everything she had been going through since she woke up! But if she's missing so much time that she had a growth spurt, then what about us?!" A choked sob broke past her lips. "What's happened to my family..."

Mukuro stepped back a little in panic seeing the other girl's tears. Reluctantly, she stepped up again and gently placed her hand on the Princess' arm. "I can't imagine... Junko and I lost our parents... a while ago. It can be hard, but not knowing sounds even worse. I..." Mukuro had started to say but she looked away, almost ashamed of herself, feeling like she just couldn't find the right words.

Sonia quickly wiped at her face. "Oh, look at me losing my composure over this. For all I know, they could be alive, and you and your sister..." Sonia stood up only to immediately fall into a bow. "I am terribly sorry for being inconsiderate."

Mukuro flushed a little in embarrassment as she looked at the royal bowing in front of her. "N-No... you don't need to... I wasn't trying to make you feel that way. Ahh, I think this was a bad idea. I just wanted to try and help but I think I only made it worse."

"No, please don't feel that way!" Sonia shot back up, a nervous look on her face. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad for trying to help me!"

"R-Right, then let's just calm down for a moment," Mukuro answered as she awkwardly laid a hand on Sonia's shoulder.

Sonia drew in a deep breath, giving a quick nod. "I am terribly sorry for my behavior. It is just..." Her shoulders slumped again. "I am just worried for my family, but that does not mean that I should be acting so erratic."

"W-Well, that's completely understandable. I imagine there are a few of us dealing with that. Though I doubt there are as big ramifications for everyone's family as the royals of a whole country," Mukuro said as she awkwardly pulled her hand back. "You aren't wrong to feel like you are... But I have to wonder how much Hiyoko felt the same anxiety."

"That is what I keep thinking," Sonia admitted. "If I am feeling this way, then she was no doubt dealing with it for far longer. She woke up aware that some time had passed." The Princess bit her lip. "I guess... I guess I mostly feel guilty for not noticing sooner. As the heir to the throne, I should be able to tell when people are upset."

Mukuro nodded a little as she relaxed a little more after the outburst. "I don't think that is so strange. Everyone has already been upset a fair bit during this whole experience. So it would be pretty hard to pick out just that exact issue."

"But I still could have said or done something," Sonia argued. She sat back down in the chair. "I just feel a bit like a failure of a ruler."

"That's not just something that a ruler feels. Everyone has times where they look back. Seeing everything they could have done to make things turn out better. To prevent a disaster..." Mukuro started to counter, only to slowly let her words drift off, tears of her own starting to form. She shut her eyes and after a deep breath looked up again. "But you can't just look back. Hindsight can show you a lot, but not what's happening right now."

Sonia bit her lip before nodding. "I... I suppose I understand what you mean." She wiped her eyes and smiled up at Mukuro. "Thank you, Mukuro, for your encouraging words."

"Of course, Sonia," Mukuro replied. She sighed calmly as she returned the smile. "Anytime."

---

8:53 PM, Day Thirteen

First Floor

Cafeteria

Korekiyo made a pleasant hum as he took in the scent of his tea. He was glad to have another quiet night as he enjoyed his cup, away from the noise of the rest of his classmates. Just as quickly as he had raised up the tea to take in the scent, he was already lowering the half-empty mug, resetting his mask. His attention was pulled up as he heard the door open and he watched Peko scan the room carefully, stopping on him when she noticed he was the only one there. "Oh, so we meet again, Peko. Still trying to avoid the others?"

"I…yes, I suppose so," she confirmed with a hesitant little nod. She stood there at the entrance for a moment, half tempted to leave the cafeteria. But, something compelled her to stay.

So Peko moved into the room, walking over to the table Kiyo had claimed. "Do you mind if I join you again?"

"If you would like to, then by all means," the Anthropologist said as he held out a hand towards the seat opposite him. "I suppose you are still taking things slow with interacting with everyone again?"

Peko nodded and claimed the seat, settling across from the Anthropologist. "Yes, I am. I still feel some…guilt over everything that happened. Still, the young master…Fuyuhiko and I had a talk. The results of it were…unexpected, but that has helped to set my mind at ease."

A set of footsteps entering the cafeteria caught the duo's attention, revealing Junko approaching and looking just a bit surprised. "Oh, didn't expect to see you two together. Mind if I join you both?"

"Oh my, it would seem I'll have to rethink my private tea time. Not that I mind honestly, some conversation makes for a fine pairing, however... I don't believe that is really my decision to make. Peko, dear, are you alright with this?" Korekiyo asked as he turned towards the Swordswoman.

Peko glanced at Junko uncertainly for a moment, before quickly masking her hesitancy. She gave a firm nod and said, "Yes…I suppose that is fine with me. You're more than welcome to join us."

Junko quickly joined the two at the table before relaxing in her seat. After a moment of awkward silence, she turned to face them. "So, what were you both talking about? Did I walk in on anything important?"

"Not really, Peko had only just showed up herself. Really it was mostly exchanges of pleasantries. After all, we had a similar meeting just yesterday before the... unfortunate events," the boy explained as he moved to stand up. "Since I now have company, I believe I should go get a few extra cups and some more tea. I'll be back soon."

Leaving the two girls behind, Junko bit her lip a bit before sighing. "So... how are you doing after everything?"

"…Better than I was before," she quietly admitted. "Fuyuhiko and Kiyo have both given me some things to think over."

"Good things, I'm hoping," Junko responded, attempting to lighten the mood. "It must be nice to have them both by your side."

"Yes, I suppose it is," Peko noted with a small smile. "I admit, Korekiyo is far more gentle and kind than his rather intimidating appearance lets on. And Fuyuhiko… he and I have a new understanding, I think."

Korekiyo let out a small chuckle as he set down a serving tray and placed a cup in front of the two girls. "All things considered, quite a sweet line to return to. Though I have to wonder exactly what you mean by that about Fuyuhiko."

As Peko took a sip, a mischievous smirk appeared on the Model's face. "With how close you two are, I'm curious, are you dating?"

With near-perfect timing, Peko did a rather impressive spit take in response, a spray of saliva and tea incidentally spraying over Korekiyo as Peko coughed and thumped her chest. "Wh-Wh-What? Junko, why would you...what on earth made you ask a question like that?!"

Her attention drifted back to the Anthropologist, and an honest-to-goodness blush appeared on Peko's cheeks. "Ah, my apologies, Korekiyo. D-Do you need a towel?"

Korekiyo sighed as he took off his hat and began wiping down the little bit of his face he left exposed with a napkin. "It's alright... hardly your fault. I suppose this should have almost been expected, Junko seems like the kind of woman who would have served as the inspiration for much of the folklore there is about wicked fae..."

"It's just an honest question," Junko retorted with a giggle. "With how long you both have known each other, I'm just curious if you have any feelings for him."

"I suppose that's a fair point. I can't say I hadn't wondered the same," Korekiyo mused as he began lightly drying his hair.

Peko immediately shook her head, taking a moment to compose herself as she tried to calm herself down. "There seems to be a… misunderstanding here. I do love Fuyuhiko, yes… but as a brother, more than anything else. There are no romantic feelings involved, I assure you."

"I see. Given what you told me of your... self-image problem, that makes sense," the Anthropologist replied. "Though, I also have to wonder... what brought up that specific interest, Junko?"

The Model perked up from her glass before smiling. "Just curious, honestly. With how close you two seemed, I wanted to know what the whole deal was between you two."

"Well, now you have your answer," Peko firmly replied, the last traces of her blush vanishing as she regained her calm demeanor. "I hope that answers that to your satisfaction."

"It does, thank you for humoring me," Junko chirped before taking another sip of her tea. "I am curious, I know about his sister, but what's the rest of his family like?"

"Hmm, quite the question. I certainly have heard a fair bit about them from the outside. Hard not to with such an infamous family, after all," Korekiyo added as he moved to refill his cup. "But that hardly compares to firsthand accounts..."

"The rest of the Kuzuryu Clan is a… well, it's rather complicated," Peko hedged. "Lord Kuzuryu has a rather messy and contentious relationship with Lady Kuzuryu. The two have tried to kill each other more than once during their power struggles. Fuyuhiko himself was caught in the crossfire more than once. His sister Natsumi, however...she is perhaps the saving grace of his family. While she does have her anger issues, she is quite close and affectionate with her brother."

Junko frowned as she took in the information. "At least he has his sister in some way."

"Quite. As distressing as that family dynamic sounds, I suppose it is a good thing Fuyuhiko had such a dedicated bodyguard as well," Korekiyo added as he gave the Swordswoman a small nod.

"I...suppose so," Peko demurred, looking down at her lap before she went on. "Truly, a great deal of the credit goes to Natsumi. For a time, their parents even tried to set them against each other… indeed, they preferred her as the heir at one point, and considered her a fair more worthy clan successor than Fuyuhiko himself. But she declined, and has instead supported her brother wholeheartedly."

"Oh my. Such a sweet sign of a sibling bond! It's quite lovely, I must say. I'm sure it wouldn't come as much of a surprise to you both, but I never had many friends. But, my own older sister was there to support me," the boy explained as he rested his cheek onto his hand.

"Yeah, Mukie has always been an amazing sis for me," Junko admitted, her smile reemerging.

"That's good to hear, but that reminds me of certain contradictory feeling I have about you two. In a way, I envy you. Having her here must bring some comfort, but also... it must be quite nerve-wracking to see her here in this situation as well," Korekiyo explained as he sighed a little. "Though in the end, perhaps it is better to know how she is currently doing."

"I must agree. I can't help but worry about Natsumi," Peko admitted. "Mukuro herself may well be in danger here, but at least you know how she is right now. The rest of the Kuzuryu Clan… well, I won't exactly shed any tears should the worst befall Lord and Lady Kuzuryu. But Natsumi...I don't know if myself or Fuyuhiko could live with ourselves if the worst has happened to her out there."

Junko gently scooched her chair closer to Peko's before placing a hand on hers. "I don't want you to think like that. If she's anything like me, which both of you have said she sort of is, she's not about to go out at any point soon." The Model snickered a bit. "Not without a hell of a fight."

Korekiyo nodded sagely as he set down his cup again. "Indeed. As for us all, we will need to remain strong and endeavor to see our loved ones again afterwards. I know I can't wait for the day that I can introduce my sister to some nice, new friends."

"Thank you, both of you. I appreciate the sentiment," Peko replied, gracing them both with a soft smile.

---

11:39 AM, Day Fourteen

First Floor

Classroom 1-A

"Thank you all for joining me," Twogami greeted, nodding at Mikan as she entered the classroom. Rantaro and Mondo were already waiting inside with him, having arrived earlier. "I do appreciate it."

"Eh, it's no big deal. This is something we need to talk about anyway," Mondo demurred, scratching the back of his head. "The sooner we discuss what to do about Nagito, the better."

Mikan nodded. "His b-behavior has gotten so erratic since the f-first trial."

"Well, that's certainly no understatement, but I believe others had already talked about this before. Even with him too, I believe," Rantaro explained as he placed a hand on his hip. "It didn't seem to help much."

"Nevertheless, things have reached a head with Nagito. The fact that he was willing to help Hiyoko in her plot means he is far more disturbed and out of it than many of us had previously thought," Twogami pointed out. "Whether we like it or not, Nagito has now proven himself a concrete danger to the rest of us."

"That's certainly a hard viewpoint to argue. He was willing to aid and abet, but we can't be sure how far he'd really go on his own," Rantaro said as he shook his head.

"As m-m-much as I don't like it, that seems to b-be the case," Mikan conceded. "Th-That's why we n-need to try and help him."

"Do we?" Mondo bluntly questioned, crossing his arms. "I mean, I ain't trying to be the main asshole here but…Nagito seems pretty far gone to me. I'm sorry, Mikan, but I think we'd be better off locking him up or something. At least that way we can make sure he can't try anything himself or collaborate with another would-be killer."

Mikan's face fell before shaking her head. "B-But what if that worsens his condition?! Isolation has proven to take sane people and ruin their psyche!"

Rantaro sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "True, if he isn't beyond help now, locking him up would only guarantee it. Maybe if we go about it a bit differently? Keep a guard on him or have people visit him? Not that I expect a lot of us will really jump at the chance to be left alone with him."

"That could be a good compromise. If nothing else, it certainly feels like the more humane option," Twogami murmured.

Mondo, meanwhile, scowled and gave a small shrug. "I dunno, man. He already seems pretty far gone. I don't think we can do much at all to help him now."

"It's better to do that than risk it and m-make things worse," Mikan argued. Her eyes turned downward as she frowned. "It's a risk either way, but I d-d-don't want to assume Nagito is long gone."

"That's very sweet, but I don't think there are many people here that'd agree. Right, Mondo?" Nagito asked as he leaned against the door frame with a wide smirk.

Mondo jumped and turned around to face Nagito. He stared at the Lucky Student with a tense scowl, his hands clenched into fists all the while. "What the fuck are you doing here, asshole?"

"Maybe my ears are burning, maybe I just got lucky and stumbled into a very interesting conversation. Who can really say? " Nagito mused as he offered a half-hearted shrug.

"M-Mondo, please, violence won't help anything," Mikan pleaded, keeping her voice low.

Mondo glanced back at her, his frown intensifying before he gave a little scoff and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. "Whatever. Just don't try anything funny, now, or you're gonna be in for a world of hurt."

"So what do we have here, a clandestine meeting? If I remember correctly, you've been accused of doing this before with the hidden door, right Byakuya?" Nagito asked as he strolled in and stood behind the teacher's desk.

Twogami regarded Nagito with an unimpressed stare. "That is irrelevant to the current circumstances. If you've been spying on us long enough, I'm sure you know what we're talking about."

"Hard not to. You all are afraid ever since I decided to generously donate my time and effort to Hiyoko," the Lucky Student explained as he leaned forward to rest his head on his hands.

"Y-You helped her clean up a m-murder," Mikan argued, her nerves getting the better of her.

"I have to wonder, just what made you decide to help her? Have you really abandoned the hope you always talked about?" Rantaro asked, stroking his chin.

A round of laughter left Nagito as he stood up again. "That's just it! I needed to know if her hope was real. If it could overcome any obstacle! Besides, I felt bad for her. After all, she isn't the only one here who is so different from everyone else!"

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Twogami pointedly asked. "Hm, does this have to do with calling yourself trash in comparison to the rest of us?"

"Yeah, he used to say that a lot before the first trial, didn't he?" Mondo said with a thoughtful frown. "Haven't heard him go on that spiel in a long while, though..."

Nagito's smirk disappeared as he seemed to adopt a surprised and thoughtful expression. "Oh, have I not? That is odd, isn't it? Oh well, I'm sure you shouldn't think too much of it."

"Is everything alright, N-Nagito?" Mikan inquired.

The Lucky Student was quiet for a moment as he looked towards Mikan before he started back towards the door. "Who really knows. Before I derailed everything, I think you all had the right idea. Or you were pretty close enough to one. Figure out exactly how you want to handle the issue and maybe I'll agree. I mean, you all know I do play well with others' little schemes. I think I'll leave you to your secret society."

---

2:21 PM, Day Fourteen

Second Floor

Art Room

"I must say, it was rather nice of you to put this all together, Angie," Keebo commented, the robot giving the Artist a small smile.

"Nyahaha, it was no problem at all! Atua felt that this was something we needed, so I put it together! I'm just glad you came!" she chirped in response. She was fussing over a small shrine set up near the center of the room, the shrine itself containing a somewhat blurry-looking photo of Hifumi. "It's almost ready, so Atua and I will be starting up the funeral here soon! Although, it doesn't seem like a lot of people have come..."

"I...suppose not," Keebo reluctantly agreed, glancing off to the others. Aside from himself and Angie, it seemed that only Gundham, Celestia, and Hiro had decided to show up.

Gundham gave a small nod as he adjusted his scarf. "Yes, it would seem we are the only ones who will be present to witness the passing of our late artistic admirer."

Yasuhiro sighed as he looked to the side. "H-Hey, don't say it like that... It's not like his g-ghost or anything is gonna be here..."

"Hmph, to think one thought of as a top level seer would turn a blind eye towards the spirits!" the Breeder remarked, crossing his arms.

"Whatever, man... I was just wondering what kinda stuff this funeral would have. Y'know, see what ol' Atua has for those who've passed away," Hiro said, color returning to his face as he forced a small smirk.

"I must admit I am rather curious myself," Celeste muttered, smoothing out the skirt on her dress. She glanced over her shoulder and breathed a small sigh when she realized she was alone.

"Well, I'll show you now! Everything is ready!" Angie happily reported, as she made her final adjustments to the shrine. She moved to stand behind it, almost as if it were a pulpit, before she began to speak.

"By Atua's divine will, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of our beloved Hifumi Yoshikawa, who was a kind-hearted soul taken far too soon from us..."

"...Isn't his last name Yamada?" Keebo quietly whispered to Gundham.

The Breeder gave a curt nod as he gently pet one of his hamsters. "Yes. Clearly he was only so beloved," he muttered back.

Celeste hummed, glancing around the shrine. "I also could have sworn that he mainly drew anime girls. Those drawings look more... realistic."

"Heh, no kidding, dude had a real talent for drawing some hotties. And he didn't even sell them for that much," Hiro added as he gave a wide smile before he suddenly started to panic a little. "Er, I- that's just what I've heard!"

"...Hifumi's talent with the Art, while not receiving divine inspirations from Atua, was nonetheless great! He leaves behind a large legacy yet to be fulfilled, but by Atua's divine grace and wisdom, his younger brother… sister… brother will surely pick up where he left off!"

"...Can she not remember if Hifumi's sibling was a boy or a girl?" Keebo couldn't help but ask. He made a face a moment later and added, "To be fair, I… don't fully recall myself. I kind of remember him talking about a sister once, I think, but… huh, now I feel kinda bad not knowing for sure."

"It is rather sad that we did not attempt to get to know them better," Celeste responded, keeping her voice low. She released a sigh. "Although, I am curious why we are only honoring Hifumi when Teruteru passed on as well."

"And not just them either. They are merely the latest of the victims. The other two previous victims are also being left out of the honor," Gundham quietly added with a frown.

"And of course, Atua will not forget Hifumi's contributions to Angie and Himiko's wedding! While they weren't all finished, the things he worked on are nevertheless super appreciated and Atua will always be grateful for that!"

"Is… that why she's holding this funeral for him?" Keebo quietly voiced. "Because he was helping her out with the wedding?"

"Atua would also like to make it known that Angie and Himiko are still accepting volunteers for the wedding preparations! Helping out will earn you more favor with Atua, and help pave the way for you to go to heaven! For his own help, Hifumi is surely smiling up in the sky with Atua… or spending time in purgatory, Atua isn't sure. He didn't fully put his faith in Atua, after all..."

The Clairvoyant had started to pale again as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "N-No way... is this really about to turn into a sermon right now?"

"You know, it makes more sense than her doing this out of a truly altruistic feeling," Celeste commented, crossing her arms over her chest. She raised an eyebrow. "Although, I am intrigued as to where this sermon will go."

"But! If you put your faith in Atua, your future will become like a bright, brilliant shining star! Atua blesses all who believe in Him, and those that put their faith in Him will live lives far more fulfilling and amazing than living without Atua! Angie herself is proof of that! So please, put your faith in Atua today, and you will welcome in a whole new, brighter future! And all Atua needs from you in return is just a little blood as an offering...hmm, maybe some money too, Atua does have a lifestyle to maintain, and upkeep for churches sure does cost a lot!" Angie went on, her hands clasped as if in prayer.

Gundham gave a soft grunt as he shook his head a little. "For a deity to be so reliant on the material. How foolish..."

"Well, it's not too atypical of human religions. Tithing to the gods in material goods, typically money but even sometimes blood sacrifices, have happened throughout human history," Keebo pointed out. He paused for a moment and added, "Though it seems particularly tacky to ask for donations and give a sermon at a funeral."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with this kind of stuff, needing to make money. Can't really have it happen for free. Y'know, just providing a service for nothing in return doesn't really work," Hiro replied, seeming a little defensive.

Celeste shook her head. "I don't trust any gods that ask for blood or money from me."

"And in summary: vote for Atua! Put your faith in Him, and He will help you to live out your dreams! Be it inhabiting a mansion filled with vampire butlers, becoming a real boy, escaping mob debt, or romancing a certain Princess, Atua will provide!" Angie cheerily exclaimed.

"That… seems oddly specific and targeted," Keebo murmured, looking even more uncomfortable. "I mean, I'm fine being a robot! I'm the Ultimate Robot for a reason! I don't want to be human… I think? If anything, I did have some ideas about potentially becoming an idol…"

"Also, Angie has heard all of your little comments, and doesn't think they've been very helpful at all!" She abruptly announced, her smile turning a bit darker as her eyes stared hard at them all. "Atua is willing to forgive your sins for now, though! But, Atua's patience can kinda run thin sometimes, you know? And people won't like it when Atua loses his temper…"

---

4:12 PM, Day Fourteen

Second Floor

Art Room

"Thank you all for coming," Himiko stated, a sleepy smile on her face as she looked at the other three people in the room. "I appreciate it."

Ibuki smiled right back at the Magician. "It's no problem, Himiko! Why did you want us here?"

"Well, Angie wants our marriage to happen soon, so I wanted help with wedding plans," Himiko explained. She began to fiddle with her fingers, her smile becoming a bit more nervous.

"Yes, Gonta happy to help! Angie said it make Atua happy, so Gonta think it help him be gentleman!" The large boy explained with a nod.

"Oh, uh, sure! We'd be happy to help!" Hina echoed, though she exchanged an uneasy look with Ibuki. "I've never helped plan a wedding before, but there's a first time for everything! Uh, did you have anything in mind to start with?"

Himiko shrugged. "Well... I guess the best place to start is entertainment." She tapped her chin. "Angie said she wanted me to show some of my magic, but it would be nice to have something else."

"Oh! Oh! I can play some of my music!" Ibuki offered, waving her hand wildly.

"Gonta thinks that sounds fun! Friends get to show off talent!" Gonta happily added before his eyes lit up. "Oh! Maybe Gonta bring some bug friends for meet and greet!"

Ibuki froze a bit before letting out a nervous chuckle. "Oh, um... As super fun as that sounds, the bugs may find it too exciting."

Gonta's smile fell as he looked a little disappointed. "Hmm, maybe bugs would be overwhelmed. Gonta wouldn't want to upset them. Will just have to do meet and greet later, that way everyone can play with them."

"Y-Yeah, let's do that!" Hina hastily agreed, giving a nervous little laugh. She gave a violent little shiver at the thought of seeing Gonta's 'friends' in person. "Um, I could always be your assistant! I'd be totally down for helping you with your magic tricks."

Himiko shook her head. "Angie said that she and Gonta would help out since us three believe in Atua, and they believe in my magic." The Magician then perked up. "And they aren't tricks! It's real magic!"

"It okay Himiko, friends understand. Just get confused by words, Gonta knows he make that mistake a lot," the Entomologist said.

"Oh, okay…." Hina replied. She crossed her arms in thought, pursing her lips before she hesitantly asked, "I don't mean to question you but…well, don't things seem to be moving a bit too fast with Angie?"

Ibuki nodded. "Yeah, I was wondering that too. You guys just met... Or at least you only remember meeting just a couple weeks ago. Doesn't it feel too soon to marry?"

"I don't know... just..." Himiko shrugged a bit and looked away from the two girls. "I don't have enough mana to deal with this."

"Huh, what you mean Himiko? Aren't Himiko and Angie in love? That is why marriage happens, right?" Gonta asked innocently as he leaned his head to the side in confusion. "And it make Atua happy, Angie say so."

"Y-Yeah, it does... That's why we're getting married." Himiko continued to fiddle with her fingers. "And Angie is pretty and nice... Maybe I'll love her eventually."

Gonta's brow furrowed as he scratched the back of his head. "Huh? Eventually? Is that how it work? Oh no, Gonta sorry he make that mistake!"

"That's not…" Hina trailed off, a concerned frown etched on her face as she looked back and forth between Gonta and Himiko. "I mean, I can get dating Angie. Things the way they are, I can kinda get seeking… comfort with other people. But, still, marriage seems like a big leap forward. Especially if you don't love Angie already."

Himiko frowned. "Well, I just want to please her and Atua. That's all."

"Right, to please Angie and Atua!" Gonta happily repeated with a bright smile. "Hmm, is Gonta suppose to marry someone to make Atua happy?"

Hina frowned again, though she refrained from speaking out, if just for the moment. She honestly wasn't sure how to even dissuade Himiko from her goal. She seemed fairly committed to it, all things considered. Still, she had to try…

"But does it make you happy?" She questioned. "Is this what you really want, Himiko?"

Ibuki glanced back at Hina and flashed her a thumbs up before turning her attention to the Witch. She frowned as she watched Himiko begin to fidget back and forth. "Um... Himiko, are you okay?"

"I..." The Witch trailed off before glaring at the ground. "I don't think either of you knows what you're talking about!"

"Huh? What you mean, Himiko? Is it cause Ibuki and Hina are trying to understand? Because they not follow Atua?" Gonta asked, looking a little nervous as he faced the petite girl.

"No! They've never been in a relationship like me and Angie!" Himiko protested.

"Um... Hina is dating Rantaro, and well... I'm getting kinda close with Mondo," Ibuki argued.

"W-Wait, we're not… I mean… well. Ugh, Junko, you really shouldn't be spreading rumors like that," Hina grumbled to herself while Himiko continued.

The Magician shook her head. "Those aren't like what Angie and I have! It's different! We're different!" The petite girl turned her glare to Ibuki and Hina. "You'll never understand what we've got! Angie cares for me, and I want to please her and Atua!"

At Himiko's words, Hina reared back in mild shock, not quite expecting the usually mousy and quiet Magician to be so explosive. "Okay, okay! We get it. Sorry, Himiko. We don't mean to offend you or anything, we just…wanted to make sure Angie wasn't pressuring you into this, or something."

"Yeah, we legit just want to make sure you're happy with everything," Ibuki claimed. She flashed the shaking Magician a small smile. "We're happy to help in any way you want."

"Right! We are all friends so you do not need to be sad! Everyone will be there when you are doing magic and get married. That will make Atua and Angie pleased!" Gonta reassured as he nodded along.

Himiko gave a small nod, her shaking beginning to calm down. "Right... I wanna do this. I wanna make Angie and Atua happy, so... We've gotta make this wedding amazing!"

"R-Right! Well then, let's do that!" Aoi agreed, still a little shaky for a moment before pumping a fist in the air. "We'll make this the best wedding ever! Not even Monokuma can stop us from doing that!"

---

6:43 PM, Day Fourteen

First Floor

Cafeteria

Kokichi happily hummed along as he pushed through the doors and carefully scanned over the room, seeing the different groups and friends sitting together as well as Kirumi moving back and forth, placing items around on the different tables. He did his best to hold back his smirk, noticing the sour faces from the different people as they noticed him. The Supreme Leader's eyes narrowed as he locked in on Taka, who was also standing by, looking at some of the others. Letting his wicked grin peek through for a moment, he quietly scuttled up towards him.

"Hey Mr. Angry-Brows! Whatcha doin'? Picking your target? Ooh, let me help!" He teased as he excitedly pulled on the other boy's sleeve.

Taka glanced over at Kokichi, giving the Supreme Leader a stern glare and a frown before he quickly shook his head. "Of course your mind would jump to something like that! That's not the case at all, I'll have you know!"

Kokichi let out a sniff as a few tears already started streaking down his cheeks. "Wah! I'm just trying to be true to myself!" After his next sob, he fully flipped his personality back to his upbeat smile. "Alright then, so what are you doing, Mr. Tight-Butthole?"

"Like I owe you an answer," Taka grumbled, crossing his arms as he huffed. "...But if you must know, I was merely thinking of how I might approach Toko. She isolates herself far too easily from the rest of us, and I was hoping to change that. Or at least get her to open up, if nothing else."

"Aw, well isn't that sweet of you. Well, why not just go super up front and direct, I'm sure that'll go over perfectly!" Kokichi chided. He gave a small shrug as he patted the boy's arm. "Don't overthink it, big guy. Just try to be patient with her, but then you should be able to confess your love for her easily enough!"

Taka scoffed and rolled his eyes, and walked over to Toko after a moment, clearly done with the Leader. "Toko!"

He paused a second later, clearing his throat as he realized just how unintentionally loud he'd been. In a softer tone, he went on. "How are you doing today?"

The Writer was startled up from her journal. She let out a small screech before calming down and glaring daggers into Taka. "Wh-What are you d-doing?! And wh-why do you care anyways?"

"I care because you're my classmate, Toko, and I'd like to get to know you better," Kiyotaka bluntly replied, not seeming the least bit troubled by her antagonistic attitude.

Toko scoffed. "Oh, p-p-please! Why would you want to d-do that?!" She pointed an accusatory finger at the boy in front of her. "Or are you wanting to j-just tease me over my writing?!"

Kokichi had slid up along the Moral Compass' side. He had a sickeningly sweet smile as he briefly pursed his lips in a kissy motion before starting to sing. "Sha-la-la-la-la-la, don't be scared, you got the mood prepared, go on and kiss the gi-"

"That's enough!" Taka swiftly declared, giving Kokichi another stern glare as he reprimanded the Leader. "You clearly aren't planning on helping, Kokichi, so I'd kindly ask you to leave."

With that said, he turned his attention back to Toko. "I was just genuinely curious, Toko. I know you wrote your masterpiece before coming here; are you writing another one now?"

"It's n-not that important, and I still d-don't get why you want to talk to me," Toko grumbled, turning her focus back to the notebook. She continued to scribble before glancing up at the Moral Compass with an annoyed look. "Are you going to just stand there and s-stare at me? Wh-What are you, some s-sort of stalker?"

A light scoff sounded from a little further down the table as Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Well, looks like all of the annoyance has concentrated here," he muttered as he briefly glared at the other three.

Toko let out a small squeak before bowing her head. "I'm s-s-sorry, Master Byakuya! I'll be quiet!"

At an adjacent table, Maki sighed and shook her head. "And here I was hoping to get some peace and quiet…"

Taka, meanwhile, took the seat across from Toko as he sat down. "Like I said, I was curious. In fact, it seems like you're working on something right now. What is it?"

After a brief period of silence, Byakuya glanced up to see Toko looking at him intensely. He sighed as he shook his head a little. "Just talk to him. If you won't just leave me alone, then you might as well finish your talk. I'm sure once he's done, he'll move along," the Heir grumbled as he stared back down at his own book.

Toko blushed a bit before turning her focus to Kiyotaka, looking just a bit hesitant. "W-Well, if you want to know, I'm w-writing about a n-noble knight who f-f-falls in love with a homely m-maiden who runs the bookstore."

"Really? That sounds interesting!" Taka declared. "Do tell me more."

"A knight who falls in love with a bookworm…I wonder why that sounds familiar," Maki remarked, smirking rather pointedly at Byakuya.

Kokichi giggled as he took a seat directly next to Taka. "I know, it's honestly so inspiring to see Toko jump genres! Can't wait to see her take on pure, delusional fantasy!" the boy added, giving a wicked grin.

Toko flashed a glare at the Supreme Leader. "Sh-Shut up, you brat!" She frowned and glanced away from the table, muttering to herself. "I kn-knew it..."

Taka sneered a little at the shorter boy, but his face softened as he instead chose to focus on the Writer. He took a deep breath as he tried to rack his brain for what to say. "Hey, Toko... please don't pay them any mind. I think your idea for a story sounds good. It clearly means a lot to you, so I'm sure you'll be able to work hard and make your next masterpiece!"

"I don't know why you're encouraging her," Maki muttered. "It's clear she's just writing a self-insert of her and Byakuya."

The Writer wilted a bit before glowering at the twin-tailed girl. "Sh-Shut up! Even if it w-was, which it's not, there's clearly enough differences between the knight and M-Master Byakuya!"

Byakuya didn't even look up from his book as he scoffed again. "Whatever you have to tell yourself. As long as it doesn't use my real name then I don't see why I should care. Frankly, that would be a step up on my identity than from a certain other person here."

"Aww, don't worry, I'm sure that big boy is only copying you as a sign of affection!" Kokichi mused.

"I cannot speak from experience, but I would imagine many authors have used the people in their lives to inspire characters," Taka said as he continued to focus on the girl in front of him with a gentle smile.

"W-Well, if M-Master is alright with it, then I don't see any reason to argue," Toko responded, turning her focus to the Heir. A small smile flitted across her lips.

Kokichi laid a hand on the Moral Compass' shoulder as he started to stand up. "Oof, sorry bro. Looks like the simping is too strong here. I think you're out of luck."

"That was never the point of this," Taka said, firmly shaking his head. He looked back up at Toko and tried his best to bring back his smile.

Maki sighed. "If you really want to hear her ramble, go for it. I'm going to the library." With that, she stood up and started walking out of the cafeteria.

"W-Well, if you w-want to hear about it, I s-suppose I can spend some t-t-time talking about it," Toko muttered, grabbing Taka's attention.

"Yes, that sounds like it would be quite fun," Taka replied as he gave her a nod. "To tell the truth, I'd been looking forward to learning about how some of my fellow classmates work with their talents!"

Kokichi sighed as he laced his fingers behind his head. "Oh well, this is getting lame. I'm gonna go see what Momma Kirumi made to eat, then go eat a bunch of dessert instead," he muttered as he wandered off.

Byakuya turned the page as he offered a bored stare up to the two. "If you're done here, move your little conversation along. I would like to keep this meal down after all."

---

8:31 PM, Day Fourteen

First Floor

Gym

Hajime took another deep breath as he looked over his group. They were standing around the room, most sitting on the bleachers. He sighed again as he continued to wrestle with his thoughts.

"Hey, are we going to actually be talking about something? These golden brain cells have better stuff they could be doing, y'know!" Miu called out as she crossed her arms, staring at the boy impatiently.

"Is everything alright, Hajime?" Chiaki inquired, glancing up from her handheld. "You were missing at dinner."

Chihiro nodded, fiddling with the hem of his sweater. "Y-Yeah, we were all a bit worried."

"Whatever it is, it better be important!" Tenko declared, crossing her arms as she huffed. "I usually go through my Neo-Aikido exercises around this time of night. So this had better be important enough to interrupt that, Hajime!"

With one last deep breath, Hajime stepped forward and gave a small nod. "I'm sorry to make you worry, I've... had a lot on my mind recently. And sorry again to call you all out here like this all of a sudden, but I think it's really important we all had a talk. After everything with Hiyoko, and with Ryoma, I need to say something. I have been letting our group down as a leader, but I won't let it happen anymore!" The boy's face hardened as he spoke with a sudden resolve.

Miu shrank back a little as she looked into Hajime's eyes. "H-Huh? What do you mean? A lame guy like you sh-shouldn't say intense stuff like that!"

"And what are you talking about?" Chiaki set her game down and frowned at him. "You have been doing your best leading us, Hajime!"

Tenko gave Chiaki a baffled look and opened her mouth to make her own less-than-kind remark… but she was abruptly cut off as Mahiru reached over to clamp a hand over her mouth.

"She's right, Hajime! It hasn't been perfect, maybe, but you've been doing your best here. You're certainly one of the more reliable guys around here," Mahiru argued, ignoring Tenko's own noises of protest.

"It's nice of you both to say, but it just isn't true. I couldn't be there for Hiyoko or Ryoma while they were spiraling out. I mean, I didn't even know about Chihiro and the problems he was dealing with. And as a leader, I should be. I can't just keep standing to the side, just trying to distract myself from this mess we're in. If I want to call myself a leader, I need to get more involved with everything going on with you all," Hajime explained with a frown.

"Well, if that's how you really feel…" Mahiru sighed, finally removing her hand from Tenko's mouth. The girl in question leveled a heated glare at her, but she ignored it.

Chihiro frowned. "Still, just because you're our leader doesn't mean you should put such a high burden on yourself. I didn't tell anyone. The few people who knew figured it out, and that's because Junko and Rantaro are incredibly observant, and Miu..." The Programmer's cheeks turned a bit red at the memory of how Miu became privy to his issue.

"Y-Yeah, it's no big deal... people keep secrets, not your fault," Miu said as she also flushed a little and turned away from the group.

"If people were able to figure it out by paying attention, that's all the worse that I wasn't a part of the people trying to help you, Chihiro. But all I can do is be able to do more going forward," Hajime explained.

Chihiro shook his head. "Hajime, that doesn't mean you're a bad leader, though." He let out a sigh. "If you want to help more, though, I do appreciate the thought."

Hajime gave the other boy a nod and took a few moments to scan over the various group members. His gaze locked with Tenko, and he did everything he could to keep a determined look as he nodded towards the Aikido Master. "Tenko. Can you come here? I know you probably have a lot to say right now, right?"

"Oh, you bet I do!" Tenko immediately confirmed with an all-too-pleased grin. She walked straight up to Hajime a moment later, adding, "So, do you want me to start with my issues with you chronologically, or alphabetically?"

"Before you launch into that, I have another suggestion first," Hajime said, not breaking eye contact with the girl. He reached up and began to loosen his tie.

"Hey, I don't think the carpet-muncher is going to be calmed down with a striptease, Hoejime!" Miu shouted.

Hajime couldn't help but roll his eyes before returning to Tenko. He tossed the tie aside as he also undid his top button. "You said I was cutting into your exercise time, yeah? So why don't you spar with me now?"

"Huh?" Tenko questioned, blinking rapidly while her eyes widened in surprise. She stared at Hajime for a long moment, before her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you mocking me?"

"I don't think he would," Chiaki argued.

"No, I'm not mocking you. I meant it when I said I want to work on understanding everyone. And I know you have a lot of issues and aggression with me, so we need to work through it," Hajime explained as he stood confidently in front of the girl.

"So you want to spar with me?" Tenko pressed and crossed her arms. She looked Hajime up and down and blithely remarked, "It really wouldn't be much of a spar, you know. You'd stand no chance against me or my Neo-Aikido."

Chihiro frowned a bit. "At least it would give you a chance to get all of your issues with Hajime out in a few punches."

"We may have to get Mikan depending on those punches," Chiaki muttered as she grabbed her handheld.

"Ahahaha! I can't believe Hajimoron is the type of guy to want an audience when he has a girl pounding his ass," Miu cackled in laughter.

Mahiru rolled her eyes and gave Miu a distinctly unimpressed stare. "Ugh, can't you ever get your mind out of the gutter?"

Hajime didn't falter as he took a step closer towards the Aikido Master. "If you don't want to spar, that's fine. We can just talk, Tenko, that's always an option."

"Well, if you really want to get yourself a beating… who am I to judge?" Tenko rhetorically asked, before moving into a fighting position. "I hope you're ready, Hajime!"

Hajime nodded as he crossed his arms, not taking any kind of stance. "I hope I am," he muttered as he looked down for a moment before returning to look at Tenko.

Tenko nodded to herself and without a further word of warning, launched herself at Hajime. She aimed a sweeping kick at his legs, aiming to bowl him over with her full strength.

Without any resistance, the boy fell onto his back. Hajime made sure to tuck in his head as he landed, and gave a sigh as he looked up to the ceiling. After a few moments, he pulled himself back onto his feet and back in front of the girl. "Not bad, but do you have nothing to say? You don't want to talk at all?" Hajime asked as he once again crossed his arms.

"I—what do I have to talk to you about? There's nothing to say!" Tenko stubbornly insisted. With a frown, she lashed out at Hajime again, this time aiming a strike squarely at the center of his chest.

With a loud hit, Hajime stumbled back, coughing and hissing in pain as the wind was knocked out of him for a moment. The boy gripped his chest for a moment until he started breathing regularly again. He straightened, and with some strain, crossed his arms again. "I-I don't care how much you hate me, Tenko... I am going to do everything I can to stand as your leader. And a part of that is because I want you to talk about your problems."

"What problems? I don't have any problems!" She furiously denied. Her ire ignited, Tenko rushed at Hajime yet again, sending a series of quick jabs and strikes at his torso. "What's your problem?! You aren't even trying to fight back!"

After the barrage of hits, Hajime dropped down to his knee as he cringed in pain. However, he once again rose back up and took the same position. His face was a lot more strained as he tried to keep the same composure in spite of being clearly hurt. "My problem is that I'm worried. I've been worried for a while now, but after Hiyoko... I'm worried about you, Tenko. You clearly hate me and practically every other man here. And I'm worried that eventually, you'll do something terrible. So I want you to work out all your anger. Even if it means I get beat up, it's better than the alternative!"

"You…" Tenko trailed off, a conflicted expression passing her face as she stared at Hajime incredulously. She hesitated for a moment, before scowling. She threw another kick at him, this time aiming for his stomach, before following that up with a mean right hook.

As the Aikido Master's first hit connected, Hajime buckled forward, just as the punch landed right on his cheek. The boy twisted in the air as he landed on the ground with a hard thump. He groaned in pain as he started to move again.

"Hajime!" Chiaki cried, watching as he received the two hits. The handheld dropped to the ground as she watched the air get knocked out of him.

"H-Hey! Don't do anything crazy, you dumb bitch! Are you trying to start another trial? Because none of the girls here are on your side with this bullshit!" Miu shouted out as she looked down at Hajime, horrified, then angrily back up at Tenko.

Chihiro whimpered, covering his face with his hands. "Please stop! I don't think he can take more!"

"Tenko, stop this! You've made your point!" Chiaki demanded.

"Jeez, lay off him already! Miu's right, you're gonna seriously hurt him if you don't stop!" Mahiru argued. "He's not even fighting back! You're no better than a playground bully at this point!"

"N-No... I-It's fine..." Hajime muttered out as he slowly moved to sit up again. He was breathing heavily as he took a moment to stand on his wobbly legs. With a lot of strain and effort, he was standing again with his arms crossed, but only just barely. "Ten-Tenko, I still want to talk... whenever you are ready..."

Chiaki glared. "If this is your definition of talking with her, then shut up, Hajime! You're hurt, and you need to see Mikan now!"

"This really was too much," Chihiro muttered as he peeked out from his hands.

Hajime held up a hand towards the others, beckoning them to stop, but his eyes never left Tenko. His breathing was ragged as he continued to only just barely stand before her. "I want to help, Tenko... Please talk with me, we don't have to do all this..."

Tenko took a step backward, eyeing Hajime nervously before her eyes darted back over to the others. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, her face portraying a mix of conflicted emotions as she stood there. "You… I… I don't understand..."

Finally, the Neo-Aikido Master couldn't take it anymore; without another word, she turned around and bolted out of the room, racing away before Hajime could stop her.

"Hey! Get back here!" Chiaki shouted. Slinging her backpack off her shoulders, she started to rush down the steps after Tenko when someone grabbed hold of her wrist.

Chihiro stared up at the Gamer with a pleading look. "Just let her go. We need to help Hajime."

As if on cue, the leader finally felt his legs give out as he collapsed onto his knees. His head was bowed down as he continued breathing shakily. "God... damnit..."

"H-Hey, a-are you okay?" Miu asked as she started looking very nervously towards him. "W-We need to get help, r-right?"

"I can go get Mikan," Mahiru volunteered, looking down at Hajime in concern.

Chiaki knelt down in front of Hajime and frowned at him. "You're such a good leader, but that was very, very dumb."

"There's no way she would... She'd never actually talk to me otherwise... Maybe after this," Hajime started to explain between breaths as his chest burned in pain. "Maybe she'll actually come around..."

"Oh, Hajime," Mahiru sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Could you at least tell us your plan next time? Watching Tenko beat you up like that was nerve-wracking."

"Sorry... I've been in my head about this since the trial..." Hajime said. "I barely convinced myself to do this... Just trying to mentally prepare for it… I'm sorry I didn't tell any of you, but I needed to do this and I was worried I'd be talked out of it. And I wanted to have other people here in case it might have gone worse…"

"Still, there have to have been other ways than... that," Chihiro argued. He glanced back at the door with a frown. "I hope Tenko's alright, though. She did look distressed."

Chiaki huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Let's just focus on getting Mikan and getting Hajime some help."

"You might want to get Nekomaru too..." Hajime muttered as he fell back, only propping himself up with his arms. "If what I heard is true... I'm really going to need one of those massages of his..."

"J-Jeez, what's with you today? First that whole display, now you want the big beefcake to come work you over? Is now really a time for a happy ending? Besides, a bara dude like him would definitely snap your twink ass in half!" Miu awkwardly joked, only to shrink back when she saw how all the other group members looked at her.

Chiaki stood up, the earlier fire now died down, and approached Miu before raising her hand. The Inventor cowered in fear before feeling a small bop on her head. "Bad Miu! Go to horny jail!"

---

41 Survivors remain…

---

*AN*

And we have returned to ftes and life outside of the trials, but who knows how long that'll last! A few of these scenes have been planned for a long time now so it was very fun to finally bring them to life!

This is also the longest chapter of the story, so far at least! And a big thank you to The WIld Finn and Camcer for editing this.